Injury is considered a major public health problem in Canada, with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) alone accounting for 165,000 injuries a year and causing 18.000 hospitalizations. If you have had a traumatic injury, recovery can be lengthy, since various types of therapy may be required. Keep the following considerations in mind to ensure you are as proactive as possible during this time to help recover from a traumatic injury.
Knowing Your Legal Rights
If your injury was the result of the negligence of others or of an employer, then you may be entitled to legal compensation – something that will definitely come in handy when it comes to accessing the widest range of useful therapies and assistance (if required) possible. The 2020 Report on Work Fatality and Injury Rates in Canada showed that 1,027 workers died of work-related causes in 2018, marking an increase of 76 from 2017, with many injuries occurring in the construction industry. Some of history’s most notorious building disasters – including the collapse of the Quebec City Bridge (1907), the New York City crane collapse (2008), and the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion (2010) took dozens of lives and injured many more people. The recency of these construction accidents shows that despite advances in work safety policy, accidents still happen way too often.
Embracing a Personalized Rehabilitation Program
Depending on the nature of your injury, your medical team may recommend different types of rehabilitation, some of which may be on an inpatient basis and some of which may be home-based or undertaken as part of a day program or other modality. Your team may recommend one or more therapies – including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychological therapy, and more. This can be attributed to the fact that an injury may result in specific abilities being affected – including one’s mental and behavioral state, strength and balance, speech ability, and the like.
Being Involved with Other Survivors
Leaning on friends for support is vital as you work to overcome the different challenges that trauma can pose but meeting other people who have undergone the same or similar traumatic injuries as you can also help. By joining a support group, you can find people who understand your personal experience, but also learn about new treatments and receive recommendations on useful approaches, dedicated professionals and therapists in your area, and more. For TBIs in particular, organizations like Brain Injury Canada, the Ontario Brain Injury Association, and Brain Injury Survivors in Canada are deeply committed to improving the quality of life of those who have survived this type of injury.
If you have experienced a traumatic injury, then taking specific steps can help you feel more confident about your path towards recover from a traumatic injury. Seeking legal and medical help are two key steps you cannot leave out. Equally important, however, is taking care of your mental health and making sure you have the support you need. This support can be sourced from family and friends but also from support groups specializing in your injury type.